Hub for wheels



No. 622,635. Patented Apr. 4, I899.

A. S. REED.

HUB FOB WHEELS.

(Application filed July 12, 1897.) (No Model.)

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PATENT ALBERT S. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS SIGNOR TO THE ONWARDCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HUB FOR WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 622,635, dated April4, 1899. Application filed July 12, 1897. Serial No. 644,269. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALBERT S. REED,a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hubs for Wheels, (CaseNo. 2,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hubs for bicycle-wheels, and hasfor its object the provision of a structure combining extremesimplicity, strength, durability, and light weight.

My invention is more particularly applicable to the form of bicycle-hubknown as the barrel-hub, wherein a section of steel tubing is providedfor the body of the hub, which is reinforced at its ends by specialparts adapted to receive the bearing-cups, spokes,

sprocket-wheel, and other associated part-s. Various types of hubs havepreviously been devised, which structures more or less satisfactorilyperform the functions for which they are designed.

The improved hub of my invention presents distinct points of advantageover any other structure with which I am conversant. In the manufactureof my improved hub I am enabled to construct the parts separately,thusinsuring extreme accuracy and permitting of the ready replacement ofworn or damaged parts. Moreover, in assembling the several parts of thehub I'have provided a structure which wholly avoids the process ofbrazing, with its accompanying deterioration of the steel under thedegree of heat necessarily employed.

The bicycle-hub of my invention may be briefly described as consistingof a tubular barrel or body portion threaded at its extremities, uponeach of which is screwed a combined spoke-flange and bearing-cupreceptacle, which is adapted to engage shoulders or abutmen ts providedat the extremities of the threaded barrel. For the rear hub asprocketwheel is constructed having an extended threaded part which isadapted to screw over the cup receptacle and engage the spokeflange, alockin g-riu g being exteriorly screwed upon the bearing cup receptacle,which is adapted to hold the sprocket-wheel in position.

From the above it will be seen that the several parts of my improved hubare assembled merely by screwing together, while the completed deviceconsists of but few parts, which are so disposed as to reinforce eachother.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawnular shoulders or abutments a, which are rolled orotherwise formed near each end thereof, the portions of the barrelbetween the shoulders and the end being threaded. The combinedspoke-flange and bearing-cup receptacle Z; is adapted to receive thebearingcup b,which is forced home to its position, as illustrated inFig. 2, prior to placing the same upon the barrel. The flanges b areprovided with openings 0, through which the spokes of the wheel arepassed in the usual manner. The parts I) being now screwed upon the endof the barrel, as shown in Fig. 1, it is seen that the interior faces ofthe flanges Z2 are adapted to engage the shoulders at at the same timethat the bearing cups b abut against the extremities of the barrel to,the said parts being constructed to secure this double engagement. Wherea sprocketwheel d is to be mounted upon the hub, as is requisite for therear hubs of bicycles, the cylindrical portion b of the cup-receptacleis exteriorly cut with right-hand threads, while a portion 12 ofslightly-smaller diameter, is provided with left-hand threads. Thesprocket is constructed with an extending collar which is interiorlythreaded and provides a rela tively large surface engaging with thecylindrical part b the teeth of the sprocket-wheel when in positionbeing brought into line with the ball-bearings of the hub. In assemblinga rear hub a sprocket d is screwed upon the part b until its shoulderabuts against the spoke-flange 19 after which the locking-ring e isscrewed upon the part I), thus locking the sprocket-wheel in position,as illustrated in Fig. 1. The axle-bolt is passed through the openingsin the bearing-cups, and balls are placed around thebearing-conesfiscrewed thereon in the usual manner. I preferably providea beveled edge for the bearing-cones f, which I have found largelyprevents the entrance of dust and dirt into the bearings.

The constructions hitherto employed in this class of hubs have providedengaging threaded surfaces for the sprocket-Wheels approximately of thesame thickness as that of the sprocket. I have, however, found itdesirable to secure a much greater bearing-surface by providing thelaterally-extending collar d,which,with the locking-ring, reinforces theinclosed bearing and at the same time, engaging the cylindrical surfacesb and the spokeflange b secures much greater strength for the parts thanis obtainable with the prior constructions.

The construction of a bicycle-hub is very much simplified and its weightdecreased by the utilization of the tubular extension of the L-shapedspoke-flange for the purpose of holding the bearing-cup, and theprovision of a shoulder or abutment a in connection with the threadedsurfaces of the barrel permits of screwing the part directly upon thebarrel and insures the necessary strength in the hub without thecustomary brazing. In manufacturing barrel-hubs for bicycle-Wheels it isnecessary to employ steel tubing of light gage or weight for the bodyportion. As a result of-this it is impracticable, if not impossible, tocut a thread upon the same of such size or depth as to afford sufficientengagement and limit the movement of the flange portion. Brazing, as Ihave stated, has been resorted to to strengthen the parts; but this isrendered unnecessary even with the lightest tubing employed whenlimiting stops or abutments are provided in accordance with myinvention, against which the flange portion may be screwed. The strengthof the hub is further contributed to by forcing the bearing-cup Withinits receptacle a sufficient distance to engage the extremity of thetubular barrel at the same time that the flange engages the shoulder a.

As is well known to those conversant with the art, the brazing of steeltubing or other parts of high-grade steel is to be avoided as far aspossible, and I have altogether obviated this by the construction aboveshown and described, with the attendant advantages of retaining in theseveral parts the highest degree of efficiency.

The disposition of the sprocket-wheel ex- I emplified in my improvedconstruction directs the pull of the chain immediately upon theball-bearings situated within said sprocket, thereby obviating anyunnecessary strain upon the several parts concerned. The spokeflangesare arranged Well within the extended bearings,thereby admirablyadapting the hub to meet lateral strain without injuring the same. Thesprocket-wheel is recessed, permitting the employment of a widelockingring. The width of the hub, moreover, is not increased by thisadvantageous disposition of the several parts. By reason of the factthat the parts are readily assembled and dissembled by screwing themupon and off the barrel or body portion any damaged or worn part of myimproved hub is readily replaced.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hub for vehicle-wheels, the combination with a lengtlr of steeltubingfoiming the body portion of said hub and provided with threadedextremities, of spoke-flanges screwed thereon and rolled shoulders orabutments formed from said tubular body portion near either extremitythereof, adapted to be engaged by and to maintain the spokeflanges inposition, substantially as described.

2. In a hub for vehicle-wheels,'the combination with a length of steeltubing forming the body portion of said hub and provided with threadedportions at its extremities, of combined spoke-flanges and bearing-cupreceptacles consisting of threaded tubular parts and angularly extendingflange portions adapted to screw thereon, bearing-cups respectivelydisposed in the tubular portions of said receptacles, and rolledshoulders or abutments formed near each extremity of the tubular bodyportion adapted to be engaged by and to maintain the spoke-flanges inposition, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of June,A. D. 1897.

ALBERT S. REED. Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, JOHN W. SINCLAIR.

